Tridynamic helmet suspension system



March 3, 1964 R. D. JORDAN 3,122,751

TRIDYNAMIC HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3, 1964 R. D. JORDAN ,7

TRIDYNAMIC HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR. Foam? A Jazz/9 Sal/HM March 3, 1964 R. D. JORDAN TRIDYNAMIC HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 2 05627 I. Jaemw BY P 5 Z I g March 3, 1964 R. D. JORDAN 3,122,751

TRIDYNAMIC HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. P0566? A hem/v United States Patent TRIDYNAMTC HELMET SUSPENSIQN YSTEM Robert D. Jordan, Balboa Island, Caiifi, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretray of t e l. avy

Filed Get. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,446 8 Claims. (Cl. 2--3} (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of American for governmental purposes Without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to improvements in helmets, and more particularly pertains to improvements in helmet suspension means adapted to fit a range of head shapes and sizes.

Helmet suspension systems are generally of the following types: padding between the head and the helmet; multiple-web arrangements; or combinations of the two. Basically, the multiple-web system provides good venti lation, tends to minimize transient deformation effects by insuring offset, relieves the concentration of directly transmitted forces, and, by its very nature, conforms to the irregularities of the skull. However, helmets with present web suspensions tend to slip about on the head more readily than do those with pads.

\ The objects and advantages of the present invention are realized by taking advantage of the fact that a fiat band of material is rigid in the short, or transverse, dimension but comparatively flexible in the longitudinal direction. Three flat bands of material are arranged in such a way that at least one is oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimension. Because of the flexibility of a band in the longitudinal direction, however, the headband easily conforms to the shape of any normal head. The webbing in the headpiece can be tightened or loosened to conform to cranial size and thus the headpiece (which includes the headband) can be snugly fitted to the wearers head. The cushioning or shock-absorbing effect of the band arrangement and the snug fit of the headpiece combine to prevent normal dynamic forces from moving the helmet out of its normal position on the head.

An object of this invention is to provide a helmet suspension system which prevents normal dynamic forces from moving the helmet out of its normal position on the head.

Another object is to provide a helmet suspension system which conforms snugly to a wide range of head shapes and sizes.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cut-away perspective view of a helmet and an embodiment of a helmet suspension means constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the component bands in the helmet suspension means;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing how the suspension means and headband appear from below after the horizontal bands have been fastened together.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 44- in FIG. 1, of a base band retainer, showing how it is fastened to the helmet;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. '1, of the manner in which the crown bands are riveted to the apex of the helmet;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the headpiece;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 77 in FIG. 1, showing the headband and the manner of fastening of a crown band to the mounting band;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the sweatband and the supporting loops before the ends of the sweatband are sewn together; and

FIG. 9 is a view of a helmet and its suspension means as it appears from below.

FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of a helmet 12 and a helmet suspension means constructed in accordance with the present invention. The suspension means comprises, generally, a headpiece 14 and a helmet support framework 16.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the helmet support framework 16 is fabricated from a pair of arched, orthogonally intersecting flats strips of material, called crown bands 18 and 2%, and four horizontal flat strips of material called base bands 22, 24, 26 and 28. A dilferent base band is secured at its center to each of the four free ends of the crown bands in such manner that each base band lies perpendicularly to the crown band to which it is aflixed. Since the crown band ends are vertical, the base bands are horizontal. The free ends of the base bands are then overlapped and slidably retained by suitable base band retainers 39, so that the base bands are formed into a continuous oval element which is designated herein as the support band 32.

The crown and base bands are fabricated from a material which is strong and resilient; a material which is rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width but resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness. Various metals such as aluminum or various types of plastic materials are suitable.

The base band retainers 30 are also employed to fasten the support band 32., and therefore the helmet support framework 16, to the helmet '12. One type of base band retainer 30 is shown in FIG. 4. The base bands 22 and 24 are retained within the recess of an E-shaped member '38 which is held against a wedge-shaped washer 4d and the helmet 12 by means of rivets 34. The wedgeshaped washer 4% may be made from a compressible material such as hard rubber or plastic foam and acts to compensate for the space left by the curvature of the helmet 12. If the E-shaped member 38 is precisely shaped, the washer 49 is not necessary.

The helmet support framework 16 is also fastened to the helmet 12 approximately at the apex, which corresponds to the point at which the crown bands 18 and 20 cross each other. FIG. 5 illustrates a suitable means of fastening, which may comprise a rivet 4-2 extending through the helmet, the crown bands and a bushing 44.

As shown in FIG. 6, the headpiece 14 comprises three elements, a headband 46, support means 48 and sizeadjustment means 50 The headband 46 comprises a sweatband 52, preferably made of leather, a mounting band 53 comprising a flat strip of strong, resilient material like that of the crown bands formed into an oval or circular shape (see FIGS. 1 and 3), and a shock-absorbing means 56, preferably a band of soft shock-absorbing material such as a monocellular plastic foam. The sweatband 52 (see FIG. 8) is formed from a substantially rectangular flat strip of flexible material scalloped to form projections along its upper edge. As may be seen most readily in FIG. 7, the sweatband 52 extends beneath and around the outside of the lower edge of the mounting band 58, the sweatband and mounting band being secured to each other by any suitable means such as cementing or stitching 60. The shock-absorbing means 56 is placed between the sweatband 52 and the mounting band 58 to cushion the wearers head from shocks and pressure occasioned by movement of, or the weight of, the helmet 12. The mounting band 58 serves as a support for the helmet support framework, and through the latter for the helmet, the ends of each of the crown bands being secured to the mounting band by means of rivets 62, for example. The helmet support framework is thus secured to the mounting band at four places.

It should be noted that the mounting band 58 may be either substantially oval or circular in shape, since head shapes are of both types. The flexibility of the mounting band and sweatband and the softness of the foam shockabsorbing means 56 will adjust the headband for heads of various shapes. However, because the ends of the base bands are retained by the base band retainers 3t} which are secured to the helmet and the centers of the base bands are secured to the mounting band "58, the support band 32 tends to have a substantially oval shape.

The support means 48 of the headpiece 14 comprises three loops 62, 64 and as preferably formed from steps of strong webbing material, the ends of the straps being attached securely to the sweatband projections which occur at equally'spaced intervals, as shown in FIG. 8. The sweatband ends are sewn together and a lace 5a is passed through each of the support-means loops 62, 64 and 66, the lace functioning as the size-adjustment means for the support means; the lace 54 is tied, the headpiece 14 is completed and is'similar in shape to a Skullcap having a headband. The size-adjustment means 54 permits the headpiece 14 to be adjusted to fit different shapes of heads snugly. -When headpiece 1 4 is complete, the support-means loops 62, 64 and 66 actually function as would three individual straps, each fastened at its ends to the sweatband and extending completely across the .head, the three straps intersecting each other at the apex of the head at IZG-degree angles. This is indicated most clearly in FIG. 9. Two loops and four equally spaced projections could also be utilized to effectively provide apair of orthogonal straps passing over the head.

In operation, the flexibility of the mounting band in the horizontal direction and the adjustability of the sizeadjustment means permits the headpiece to conform snugly to the various shapes of head which may be encountered, Provision of shock-absorbing bands 56 of different thicknesses permits adaptation of the headpiece to heads of various circumferences. A set of only three difierent thicknesses willfit the majority of head sizes.

The firm seating of the headpiece uponthe wearers head provides a stablebase, non-movable with respect to the head, for the helmet support framework and the helmet. Downward and lateral forces against the helmet a receive immediate cushioning through the resiliency of the crown bands or through the resiliency and slidability of the horizontal base bands. The dynamic forces which are not absorbed by the cushioning effect are, in most cases, distributed by the helmet support framework to at least two spaced points on the headband.

The flat bands have a bending moment in one direction which is much greater (as much as several thousand or 7 more) than that in the otherdirection. The bands are arranged in such a way'that at least one is oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions providing the helmet with great stability relative to the head of V the wearer.

I claim: 7 V r 1. Helmet suspension means for supporting a ballistic shell-like helmet upon the head of a wearer comprising, in combination: a headpiece comprising a sweatband formed from a substantially rectangular, flatstrip of flexiblematerial fastened together at its ends to form a loops as desired thereby forming an adjustably sized cap rorn said sweatband and loops, a mounting band comprising a substantially circular band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, and a substantially circular band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband andsaid mounting band; and a helmet support framework comprising a pair of arched crown bands consisting of a pair of rectangular fiat strips of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other so that they cross each other at their centers with flat sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of the 'two arches and the crown bands being adapted to 'be secured at this apex to the apex of a helmet,- four base bands formed from material having the same characteristics as that of said crown bands and secured horizontally torsaid crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end 'of said crown bands, and fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially oval support band, said crown bands and said support band forming a threedimensional system having a different band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being adapted to be secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

' 2. Helmet suspension means for supporting a ballistic shell-like helmet upon the head of a wearer comprising, in combination: a headpiece comprising a sweatband formed from a substantially rectangular, fiat strip of flexible material fastened together at its ends to form a sub-- stantially oval band, the upper edge of this band being scalloped to form at least four projections, at least two straps of flexible material each being securely fastened at its ends to two adjacent sweatband projections and forming a loop therebetween, size-adjustment means consisting of a piece of lacing material passing through each said loop for tightening together the mid-points of said loops as desired thereby forming an'adjustably sized cap from said sweatband and loops, a mounting band comprising a substantially oval band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, and a substantially oval band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band; and a helmet support framework comprising a pair of arched crown bands consisting of a pair of rectangular flat strips of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness butJigid to forces acting in the direction of its' width, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other sothat they cross each other at. their centers with fiat. sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of V the two arches and the crown bands being adapted to be secured at this apex to the apex of a helmet, four base bands formed from material having the same char .QCtfiIlStlCS as that of said crown bands and secured hori zontally to said crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end of said crown bands, and

fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially oval sup port band, said crown bands and said support band forming a three-dimensional system having a different band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being adapted to be secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

3. Helmet suspension means for supporting a ballistic shell-like helmet upon the head of a wearer comprising, in combination: a headpiece comprising a sweatband formed from a substantially rectangular flat strip of flexible material fastened together at its ends to form a substantially circular band, the upper edge of this band being scalloped to form six equally spaced projections, three straps of flexible material each being securely fastened at its ends to two adjacent sweatband projections and forming a loop therebetween, size-adjustment means consisting of a piece of lacing material passing through each said loop for tightening together the mid-points of said loops as desired thereby forming an adjustably sized cap from said sweatband and loops, a mounting band comprising a substantially circular band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, and a substantially'circular band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band; and a helmet support framework comprising a pair of arched crown bands consisting of a pair of rectangular fiat strips of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other so that they cross each other at their centers with flat sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of the two arches and the crown bands being adapted to be secured at this apex to the apex of a helmet, four base bands formed from material having the same characteristics as that of said crown bands and secured horizontally to said crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end of said crown bands, and fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially oval support band, said crown bands and said support band forming a three-dimensional system having a different band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being adapted to be secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

4. Helmet suspension means for supporting a ballistic shell-like helmet upon the head of a wearer comprising, in combination: a headpiece comprising a sweatband formed from a substantially rectangular, flat strip of flexible material fastened together at its ends to form a substantially oval band, the upper edge of this band being scalloped to form six equally spaced projections, three straps of flexible material each being securely fastened at its ends to two adjacent sweatband projections and forming a loop therebetween, size-adjusltment means consisting of a piece of lacing material passing through each said loop for tightening together the mid-points of said loops as desired thereby forming an :adjustably sized cap from said sweatband and loops, a mounting band comprising a substantially oval 'band of material IVIhlCh is resilient to forces acting in :the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction 'of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, and a substantially oval band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band; and a helmet support framework comprising a pair of arched crown bands consisting of a pair of rectangular flat strips of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other so that they cross each other at their centers with fiat sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of the two arches and the crown bands being adapted to be secured at this apex to the apex of a helmet, four base bands formed from material having the same characteristics as that of said crown bands and secured horizontally to said crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end of said crown bands, and fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially oval support band, said crown bands and said support band forming a three-dimensional system having a diiferent band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being adapted to be secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

5. In combination with a ballistic shell-like helmet and a snugly fitting, skullcap-type headpiece having a sweatband adapted to encircle the circumference of the head of a wearer, a mounting band comprising a substantiflly oval band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concen- :trically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, a substantially oval band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band, and a helmet support framework comprising va pair of arched crown lbands consisting of a pair of rectangular flat strips of material having the same characteristics as that of said mounting band, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other so that they cross each other at their centers with flat sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of the two arches and the crown bands being secured at this apex to the apex of said helmet, four base bands formed from material having the same characterstics as that of said mounting band and secured horizontally to said crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end of said crown bands, and fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially ova-l support band, said crown bands and said support band forming a threedimensional system having a different band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

6. In combination with a ballstic shell-like helmet and a snugly fitting, Skullcap-type headpiece having a sweatband adapted to encircle the circumference of the head of a wearer, a mounting band comprising a substantially circular band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with the lower ends of each being secured together, a substantially circular band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band, and a helmet support framework comprising a pair of airched crown bands consisting of a pair of rectangular fiat strips of material having the same characteristics as that of said mounting band, the strips being arranged orthogonally to each other so that they cross each other at their centers with flat sides adjacent to each other, the crossover point forming the apex of the two arches and the crown bands being secured at this apex to the apex of said helmet, four base bands formed from material having the same characteristics as that of said mounting band and secured horizontally to said crown bands, the center of a different base band at each free end of said crown bands, and fastening means for slidably fastening together the free ends of said base bands to form a substantially oval support band, said crown bands and said support band forming a threedimensio-nal system having a different band oriented as a rigid member in each of the three dimensions, said fastening means also being secured to the nearest points of said helmet.

7. In combination with a ballistic shell-like helmet and a snugly fitting, skullcap-type headpiece having a sweatband adapted to encircle the circumference of the head of a wearer, a mounting band comprising a substantially circular band of material which is resilient to forces acting in the direction of its thickness but rigid to forces acting in the direction of its width, said mounting band concentrically encircling said sweatband with one of its fiat sides lying adjacent to the sweatband, the lower ends of said mounting band and said sweatband being secured together, a substantially circular band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band, and a helmet support framework comprising three bands of material including two crown bands and a base band having the same characteristics as that of said mounting band, said three bands being arranged so that a different one is oriented as a rigid member in each of three dimensions, said framework being secured to said helmet at any cross points of said bands, and said base band being alternately secured to said helmet and said mounting band at a plurality of spaced points.

8. In combination with a ballistic shell-like helmet and a snugly fitting, Skullcap-type headpiece having a sweatband adapted to encircle the circumference of the head of a wearer, a mounting band comprising a substantially circular band of material which is resilient being secured together, a substantially circular band of shock-absorbing material inserted and retained between said sweatband and said mounting band, and a helmet support framework comprising three bands of material. including two crown bands and a base band having the same characteristics as that of said mounting band, said three bands being arranged so that a difierent one is oriented as a rigid member in each of three dimensions, said framework being secured to said helmet at any cross points of said bands, and said base band being alternately secured to said helmet and said mounting band at eight spaced pointsv 1 References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

7. IN COMBINATION WITH A BALLISTIC SHELL-LIKE HELMET AND A SNUGLY FITTING, SKULLCAP-TYPE HEADPIECE HAVING A SWEATBAND ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE HEAD OF A WEARER, A MOUNTING BAND COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR BAND OF MATERIAL WHICH IS RESILIENT TO FORCES ACTING IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS THICKNESS BUT RIGID TO FORCES ACTING IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS WIDTH, SAID MOUNTING BAND CONCENTRICALLY ENCIRCLING SAID SWEATBAND WITH ONE OF ITS FLAT SIDES LYING ADJACENT TO THE SWEATBAND, THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID MOUNTING BAND AND SAID SWEATBAND BEING SECURED TOGETHER, A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR BAND OF SHOCK-ABSORBING MATERIAL INSERTED AND RETAINED BETWEEN SAID SWEATBAND AND SAID MOUNTING BAND, AND A HELMET SUPPORT FRAMEWORK COMPRISING THREE BANDS OF MATERIAL INCLUDING TWO CROWN BANDS AND A BASE BAND HAVING THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS THAT OF SAID MOUNTING BAND, SAID THREE BANDS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT A DIFFERENT ONE IS ORIENTED AS A RIGID MEMBER IN EACH OF THREE DIMENSIONS, SAID FRAMEWORK BEING SECURED TO SAID HELMET AT ANY CROSS POINTS OF SAID BANDS, AND SAID BASE BAND BEING ALTERNATELY SECURED TO SAID HELMET AND SAID MOUNTING BAND AT A PLURALITY OF SPACED POINTS. 